"Coup de Foudre" 107
By Gaedhal
Pittsburgh, July 2016
“Justin! Brian! And Gus, honey!” Debbie enveloped them all in her arms. “I was starting to think I was gonna have to send out a search party to find you!”
Justin disengaged from her grasp, although she remained tenaciously attached to Brian and Gus. “Sorry we’re late. Carmel… um… didn’t feel well, so we didn’t want to leave her until we knew she was okay,” Justin lied. He pictured Carmel’s face as she refused for the tenth time a chance to “go over to that crazy woman’s house and eat her deadly food!” Finally, Justin gave up and they left her at the house, watching the latest episode of ‘La Rubia y La Morena.’
“Oh, dear,” said Debbie, finally releasing Brian and Gus. “I can send some food over for her. Carl can run it over. Maybe some soup? Or I can whip up a casserole!”
“No, Deb,” said Justin, imagining that Carmel would deposit any casserole Debbie sent over directly into the garbage disposal. “That’s not necessary. Really, it’s not. And then Brian insisted that we stop to get you something.” Justin paused. “Brian?”
“Oh, yeah.” He sheepishly produced a bouquet of flowers, slightly crushed. “From… from… what’s that place?”
“Giant Eagle,” said Gus. “Can we eat now? I’m starving!”
“Keep your pants on, young man,” said Debbie. “There’s plenty of food and it’s all ready. First, I need to put these lovely flowers into some water.” She pulled Brian down and kissed his cheek. “So thoughtful of you, baby. Thank you.”
“Flowers,” said Brian. “Women like flowers. That’s right, isn’t it?”
“Of course,” said Debbie. “Everyone loves flowers.”
“Roses,” said Brian, frowning. “Those aren’t roses. Roses are for birthdays, right?”
“These are fine for any occasion.” Debbie smiled. “Go in and take your places at the table. Michael and Ben and Carl are already in there, having salad and vino.” Deb looked at Justin. “Is it all right for… someone to have some wine?”
“A little,” said Justin. “That should be okay.”
“Can’t have puttanesca without some decent vino,” Debbie stated.
“Puttanesca? That’s my favorite!” Gus cried.
He was already heading for the table as Justin guided Brian through the living room. He stopped and looked around the room he’d entered a thousand times like he’d never been there before.
“Debbie’s house,” Justin nudged. “Remember?”
“Mikey lives here,” said Brian. His voice was flat.
“He used to,” Justin replied. “Now he and Ben have their own house. By the university.”
“Sure,” said Brian. “Michael… and Ben. They have their own house.” He hesitated. “On Stepford Terrace!”
Justin laughed, thinking of when Michael and Ben first moved into their house so many years before. “That’s correct. Stepford Terrace.”
Brian turned to Justin. “And you live here. Or you used to live here. I think.”
Justin nodded. “Yes, I lived here. Upstairs in Michael’s old room. Next to Vic’s room.”
Brian squeezed his eyes closed. “Vic. He’s dead.”
“Yes,” said Justin gently. “He is.”
“But he’s not in hell,” Brian said adamantly. “He’s in heaven. With Judy.”
“Judy?” Justin had no idea what Brian meant.
“And God,” said Brian. “With God and Judy.”
Sometimes the things that came out of Brian’s mouth were inexplicable. “If you say so, Brian.”
“Judy who?” said Debbie, hustling them toward the table. “Take a load off! Have some salad. I’m getting the pasta ready.”
“You need any help with that?” Justin asked.
“Thanks, Sunshine, but I can handle it. You sit down and relax. This is my show tonight.”
Sunday dinner at Debbie’s. Justin was hoping it would help Brian’s memory. Also help him feel secure. Something familiar. Homey. No pressure - for any of them.
And Gus. He needed to make this connection, too. Justin knew the kid was troubled. He’d been through too much recently, no wonder he was acting out. But Justin often needed to stop and take deep breaths to keep from screaming at him. It was probably a good thing Carmel hadn’t come to dinner. She and Deb simply didn’t get along, so that made one less element to screw up the works. And Justin didn’t want anything to screw up tonight.
“Here are the beautiful flowers Brian brought me,” said Debbie, placing the vase in the center of the table. “The perfect touch.”
“Great,” said Carl. “Now how about some of that puttanesca? And some veal cutlets?”
“It’s coming!”
Debbie outdid herself, making much more food than even a table full of hungry men could finish. But Deb’s main aim was to make certain her guests never left her house hungry - and that if five unexpected guests showed up, they wouldn’t leave hungry either.
“I should’ve invited Ted and Blake,” said Debbie, draining her glass of red wine.
“Next time, Ma,” said Michael. “I was just saying to Ben that we should have you guys over to our house soon.”
“No fucking tofu,” Brian blurted out.
Justin stifled a snort. “I’m sure whatever Ben makes will be great.”
“Not if it’s fucking tofu,” Brian insisted. “You wouldn’t eat that shit, would you, Sonny Boy?”
“Mom makes it all the time,” Gus shrugged. “There are worse things. Mavis’s nut-loaf. It tastes like a hockey puck! Not like the puttanesca!” Gus mopped up the remnants of his sauce with a hunk of Italian bread.
“I’ll make Pad Thai,” said Ben. “With chicken. No tofu.”
“Well…” Brian bit at his lower lip. “I need more pasta. I’m hungry.”
“Wonderful!” said Debbie. “You’re too skinny, as usual.” She heaped more linguini onto his plate and covered it with the rich anchovy sauce.
“It’s salty,” said Brian, after shoving another forkful into his mouth. “I need more wine.”
“Have some water,” said Justin. He got up to bring Brian some ice water. One small glass of wine was fine, but he didn’t want him to have any more than that. He wasn’t sure how it would mix with Brian’s meds.
Debbie got up and followed Justin into the kitchen.
“How’s he doing, really?” she asked, keeping her voice low. At the table Michael was describing a customer who’d come into the store the day before, while Gus added his own commentary.
“Okay,” said Justin. “He gets tired so easily. And frustrated when he can’t remember something. But that’s pretty typical.”
“I don’t remember you being like that,” said Debbie.
Justin shook his head. “That’s because I was in the hospital for so long, and then in the Rehab Unit before they let me out. At first I couldn’t remember certain words or the names of people I saw every day. But after a while it got better. By the time I went home my short-term memory was pretty good, except for… for what happened. Dr. Peretti says everyone is different. But no matter what, it’s going to take time.”
“What about that therapist Michael told me about? Not the physical therapist, but… what’s it called?”
“The cognitive therapist,” said Justin. “He’s going in tomorrow morning to meet her and have an evaluation of his cognitive function. I doubt that Brian is going to like it much - he’s sick of doctors questioning him - but it’s important if he’s going to progress.”
“How’s his shoulder?” Debbie asked. “I noticed he was moving it funny.”
“It’s healing, but I know it hurts him. His physical therapist has been over to the house and Brian likes to work out, so…” Justin made a face thinking of Danny. “The guy is hot, so I’m hoping Brian will be motivated. But mostly Brian just sits around, watching TV. He’s either extremely restless, wandering around the house and pacing back and forth, or he’s completely lethargic, lying on the sofa, staring into space. That’s typical, too, but it’s hard to see Brian… who was always so… so…” Justin turned away. “It’s like he’s a different person. I should talk, because I know I was a different person after I was bashed, but…”
“You’re doing a great job, Sunshine,” said Debbie. “Now take him this water and I’ll get the dessert.”
Debbie watched Justin carry the glass out to Brian. Poor Sunshine! What a rotten break! Maybe Brian would never be any better. How awful would that be? But Justin would never give up. He was determined to take care of Brian, come hell or high water! Like when she was taking care of Vic. She wasn’t about to let Vic die. And Justin wouldn’t let Brian slip away, either. But if his head wasn’t right, what could you do?
Debbie made a promise to light a candle tomorrow for both Brian and Justin. And also one for Vic. What the hell? It couldn’t hurt.
***
Gale & Randy at ATX pics with thanks to Kinwad!
Pittsburgh, July 2016
“Justin! Brian! And Gus, honey!” Debbie enveloped them all in her arms. “I was starting to think I was gonna have to send out a search party to find you!”
Justin disengaged from her grasp, although she remained tenaciously attached to Brian and Gus. “Sorry we’re late. Carmel… um… didn’t feel well, so we didn’t want to leave her until we knew she was okay,” Justin lied. He pictured Carmel’s face as she refused for the tenth time a chance to “go over to that crazy woman’s house and eat her deadly food!” Finally, Justin gave up and they left her at the house, watching the latest episode of ‘La Rubia y La Morena.’
“Oh, dear,” said Debbie, finally releasing Brian and Gus. “I can send some food over for her. Carl can run it over. Maybe some soup? Or I can whip up a casserole!”
“No, Deb,” said Justin, imagining that Carmel would deposit any casserole Debbie sent over directly into the garbage disposal. “That’s not necessary. Really, it’s not. And then Brian insisted that we stop to get you something.” Justin paused. “Brian?”
“Oh, yeah.” He sheepishly produced a bouquet of flowers, slightly crushed. “From… from… what’s that place?”
“Giant Eagle,” said Gus. “Can we eat now? I’m starving!”
“Keep your pants on, young man,” said Debbie. “There’s plenty of food and it’s all ready. First, I need to put these lovely flowers into some water.” She pulled Brian down and kissed his cheek. “So thoughtful of you, baby. Thank you.”
“Flowers,” said Brian. “Women like flowers. That’s right, isn’t it?”
“Of course,” said Debbie. “Everyone loves flowers.”
“Roses,” said Brian, frowning. “Those aren’t roses. Roses are for birthdays, right?”
“These are fine for any occasion.” Debbie smiled. “Go in and take your places at the table. Michael and Ben and Carl are already in there, having salad and vino.” Deb looked at Justin. “Is it all right for… someone to have some wine?”
“A little,” said Justin. “That should be okay.”
“Can’t have puttanesca without some decent vino,” Debbie stated.
“Puttanesca? That’s my favorite!” Gus cried.
He was already heading for the table as Justin guided Brian through the living room. He stopped and looked around the room he’d entered a thousand times like he’d never been there before.
“Debbie’s house,” Justin nudged. “Remember?”
“Mikey lives here,” said Brian. His voice was flat.
“He used to,” Justin replied. “Now he and Ben have their own house. By the university.”
“Sure,” said Brian. “Michael… and Ben. They have their own house.” He hesitated. “On Stepford Terrace!”
Justin laughed, thinking of when Michael and Ben first moved into their house so many years before. “That’s correct. Stepford Terrace.”
Brian turned to Justin. “And you live here. Or you used to live here. I think.”
Justin nodded. “Yes, I lived here. Upstairs in Michael’s old room. Next to Vic’s room.”
Brian squeezed his eyes closed. “Vic. He’s dead.”
“Yes,” said Justin gently. “He is.”
“But he’s not in hell,” Brian said adamantly. “He’s in heaven. With Judy.”
“Judy?” Justin had no idea what Brian meant.
“And God,” said Brian. “With God and Judy.”
Sometimes the things that came out of Brian’s mouth were inexplicable. “If you say so, Brian.”
“Judy who?” said Debbie, hustling them toward the table. “Take a load off! Have some salad. I’m getting the pasta ready.”
“You need any help with that?” Justin asked.
“Thanks, Sunshine, but I can handle it. You sit down and relax. This is my show tonight.”
Sunday dinner at Debbie’s. Justin was hoping it would help Brian’s memory. Also help him feel secure. Something familiar. Homey. No pressure - for any of them.
And Gus. He needed to make this connection, too. Justin knew the kid was troubled. He’d been through too much recently, no wonder he was acting out. But Justin often needed to stop and take deep breaths to keep from screaming at him. It was probably a good thing Carmel hadn’t come to dinner. She and Deb simply didn’t get along, so that made one less element to screw up the works. And Justin didn’t want anything to screw up tonight.
“Here are the beautiful flowers Brian brought me,” said Debbie, placing the vase in the center of the table. “The perfect touch.”
“Great,” said Carl. “Now how about some of that puttanesca? And some veal cutlets?”
“It’s coming!”
Debbie outdid herself, making much more food than even a table full of hungry men could finish. But Deb’s main aim was to make certain her guests never left her house hungry - and that if five unexpected guests showed up, they wouldn’t leave hungry either.
“I should’ve invited Ted and Blake,” said Debbie, draining her glass of red wine.
“Next time, Ma,” said Michael. “I was just saying to Ben that we should have you guys over to our house soon.”
“No fucking tofu,” Brian blurted out.
Justin stifled a snort. “I’m sure whatever Ben makes will be great.”
“Not if it’s fucking tofu,” Brian insisted. “You wouldn’t eat that shit, would you, Sonny Boy?”
“Mom makes it all the time,” Gus shrugged. “There are worse things. Mavis’s nut-loaf. It tastes like a hockey puck! Not like the puttanesca!” Gus mopped up the remnants of his sauce with a hunk of Italian bread.
“I’ll make Pad Thai,” said Ben. “With chicken. No tofu.”
“Well…” Brian bit at his lower lip. “I need more pasta. I’m hungry.”
“Wonderful!” said Debbie. “You’re too skinny, as usual.” She heaped more linguini onto his plate and covered it with the rich anchovy sauce.
“It’s salty,” said Brian, after shoving another forkful into his mouth. “I need more wine.”
“Have some water,” said Justin. He got up to bring Brian some ice water. One small glass of wine was fine, but he didn’t want him to have any more than that. He wasn’t sure how it would mix with Brian’s meds.
Debbie got up and followed Justin into the kitchen.
“How’s he doing, really?” she asked, keeping her voice low. At the table Michael was describing a customer who’d come into the store the day before, while Gus added his own commentary.
“Okay,” said Justin. “He gets tired so easily. And frustrated when he can’t remember something. But that’s pretty typical.”
“I don’t remember you being like that,” said Debbie.
Justin shook his head. “That’s because I was in the hospital for so long, and then in the Rehab Unit before they let me out. At first I couldn’t remember certain words or the names of people I saw every day. But after a while it got better. By the time I went home my short-term memory was pretty good, except for… for what happened. Dr. Peretti says everyone is different. But no matter what, it’s going to take time.”
“What about that therapist Michael told me about? Not the physical therapist, but… what’s it called?”
“The cognitive therapist,” said Justin. “He’s going in tomorrow morning to meet her and have an evaluation of his cognitive function. I doubt that Brian is going to like it much - he’s sick of doctors questioning him - but it’s important if he’s going to progress.”
“How’s his shoulder?” Debbie asked. “I noticed he was moving it funny.”
“It’s healing, but I know it hurts him. His physical therapist has been over to the house and Brian likes to work out, so…” Justin made a face thinking of Danny. “The guy is hot, so I’m hoping Brian will be motivated. But mostly Brian just sits around, watching TV. He’s either extremely restless, wandering around the house and pacing back and forth, or he’s completely lethargic, lying on the sofa, staring into space. That’s typical, too, but it’s hard to see Brian… who was always so… so…” Justin turned away. “It’s like he’s a different person. I should talk, because I know I was a different person after I was bashed, but…”
“You’re doing a great job, Sunshine,” said Debbie. “Now take him this water and I’ll get the dessert.”
Debbie watched Justin carry the glass out to Brian. Poor Sunshine! What a rotten break! Maybe Brian would never be any better. How awful would that be? But Justin would never give up. He was determined to take care of Brian, come hell or high water! Like when she was taking care of Vic. She wasn’t about to let Vic die. And Justin wouldn’t let Brian slip away, either. But if his head wasn’t right, what could you do?
Debbie made a promise to light a candle tomorrow for both Brian and Justin. And also one for Vic. What the hell? It couldn’t hurt.
***
Gale & Randy at ATX pics with thanks to Kinwad!